Consumer prices in Croatia increased by 2.2% in October compared to the same month last year, according to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS). This marks the end of a five-month trend of declining annual inflation rates, which had dropped to 1.6% in September.

The largest annual price hikes were seen in restaurants and hotels (+10.6%), followed by miscellaneous goods and services (+6.7%) and education (+5.3%). Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 4.8%, while energy prices fell by 4.5%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 1.1%, with clothing and footwear leading the surge (+10.5%).

Inflation measured by the EU-harmonized index (HIPC) stood at 3.6% year-on-year, highlighting ongoing cost-of-living challenges.

The Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board showcased its offerings at the prestigious Nordic Roadshow 2024, held under the slogan "Meet the World." This promotional event took place from November 11 to 14 in the capitals of the Nordic countries—Stockholm, Helsinki, Oslo, and Copenhagen.

With significant support from the Stockholm-based marketing agency Aviareps, which extended an invitation to the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board for the fifth time, the county was presented as an attractive destination for Nordic travelers.

The presentation program began on November 11 in Stockholm, in the impressive Palmsalen congress hall. The next day, November 12, the event moved to Helsinki, where meetings and discussions were held in the Kulttuurikasarmi hall. On November 13, the program continued in Oslo at the Continental Hotel, with the final presentation held on November 14 in Copenhagen, at the Scandic Kodbyen Hotel.

All presentations were highly professional, attended by numerous agents and media representatives. Participants were offered structured opportunities for individual discussions, further encouraging networking and collaboration.

Visitors from Scandinavia have recognized the beauty of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County; in the first ten months of 2024, 96,566 tourists from this region visited the county, generating a total of 439,250 overnight stays. These figures highlight the growing interest of Scandinavians in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, with the Nordic Roadshow serving as an ideal platform for further promotion.

Dubrovnik Museums is once again this year participating in the largest international book fair in Croatia, the Interliber International Book Fair, held in Zagreb.

On Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 10:00 to 16:00, Dubrovnik Museums will showcase their rich publishing activities, which include over 100 museum publications, at the stand of the Museum Documentation Centre.

The first printed museum publication in Dubrovnik connected to the history of Dubrovnik Museums dates back to 1876. This was a short guide to the then-permanent exhibition of the Stjepan Skurla Indigenous Museum titled “Cenni storici”, self-published by its author. The history of publishing in Dubrovnik Museums can be traced back to the 1940s. In 1941, the exhibition catalogue “Dubrovnik Maritime Heritage Through the Centuries” was printed, marking the oldest professional publication in Dubrovnik Museums’ publishing. From 1950, the first guides to permanent exhibitions were published: “Guide to the Cultural and Historical Exhibition at the Rector’s Palace” (1950) and “Guide to the Maritime Museum” (1952). In the following decades, more modest exhibition catalogues and various leaflets for permanent exhibitions were published in Croatian, English, French, German, and Italian. From 1954 to 1967, the Maritime Museum published a five-volume series on Dubrovnik's maritime history, titled “Materials for the Maritime History of Dubrovnik”.

Systematic publishing by Dubrovnik Museums began in 2000, with the release of richly illustrated exhibition and collection catalogues, permanent exhibition guides, five volumes of the official Museum journal “Dubrovnik Museums Proceedings”, monographs, and educational materials for children of various ages. Over the past two decades, Dubrovnik Museums have published more than 100 titles in their own editions.

As November draws to a close, Zagreb is preparing to light up the city with one of Europe’s most beloved winter celebrations: Advent. Beginning November 30, the Croatian capital will officially kick off its holiday season with the lighting of the first Advent candle at Manduševac Fountain, transforming the city into a glittering Christmas wonderland spread across 18 locations.

For Zagreb’s Tourist Board, this year's event marks a particularly special milestone as the Advent celebration enters its tenth year with a record-breaking number of new additions. Director of the Zagreb Tourist Board, Martina Bienenfeld, described Advent as their “most significant project,” and one that each year symbolically wraps up a successful season of tourism in the city. “There are numerous new features this year to celebrate the tenth anniversary of our Advent concept,” Bienenfeld said. “We've introduced our first major neighborhood location at Kvaternik Square, and this new addition, along with other festively decorated areas, will bring Advent to life for residents and tourists alike.”

The 2024 festivities will showcase ten fresh locations, including an expansion into neighborhoods outside the city center. Zagreb’s Tunnel Grič, a popular Advent feature, will receive an update this year with a Polar Express installation, likely to be a favorite among younger visitors. Tomislav Square, famous for its open-air ice rink, will celebrate its tenth anniversary with special events and decorations, reaffirming its place as a highlight of Zagreb’s Advent experience.

Streets like Petrićeva, which will be newly decorated for the season, and additional pedestrianized areas are expected to heighten the festive atmosphere throughout the city. Bienenfeld shared that these expansions reflect the spirit of Advent as a time for gathering and celebration, as well as the Tourist Board’s dedication to growing Zagreb’s reputation as a premier winter destination in Europe.

Since it began nearly a decade ago, Zagreb’s Advent has gained popularity, drawing visitors from around the world to experience its traditional charm mixed with unique cultural touches. With increased participation from local vendors, artisans, and community groups, the 2024 Advent in Zagreb promises to be an unforgettable blend of festivity, tradition, and holiday warmth for locals and visitors alike.

As November 30 approaches, the city is putting the final touches on its decorations, readying itself to welcome another season of holiday cheer and, with it, another chapter in its storied tourism legacy.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated that Croatia's efforts have demonstrated that economic growth and environmental responsibility can coexist. Croatia's carbon footprint is well below the EU average, and the country ranks eighth out of 193 UN member states for achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, reports Vecernji.hr

Currently, Croatia uses at least 29.5% of its energy from renewable sources, with a goal to increase that to 42.5% by 2030 through projects like green hydrogen and geothermal energy, Plenković announced on Wednesday at the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan. "Croatia is committed to decarbonizing its energy system and accelerating the green transition," said Plenković in his speech at the United Nations' 29th climate summit in Baku. He emphasized that financial matters at the conference are important, but the most crucial resource is time—"we must act now."

In 2022, renewable sources accounted for 29.5% of Croatia’s energy consumption, and that number continues to rise. With projects like green hydrogen and geothermal energy, Croatia aims to achieve 42.5% renewable energy by 2030, Plenković announced. Croatia also has strong potential for investments in pumped-storage hydroelectric plants, he added.

He emphasized that moving away from fossil fuels is not only good for the climate but is also an economic necessity, as the International Energy Agency warns of an impending peak in oil production. Plenković noted that Croatia’s efforts show that economic growth and environmental responsibility can coexist. Croatia's carbon footprint is far below the EU average, and the country ranks eighth out of 193 UN member states for meeting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

On the island of Korčula, they are generally pleased with the results of the tourist season for this year.

The city of Korčula recorded a 4 percent increase in overnight stays, while Vela Luka saw a rise of 3.5 percent. Smokvica and Lumbarda also experienced growth, with overnight stays up by 1.2 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, compared to last year. However, the Municipality of Blato saw a slight decline of 0.74 percent in overnight stays.

Overall, the island has shown a positive trend, with several areas benefiting from a steady influx of tourists, the results indicate a healthy recovery and ongoing interest in Korčula's unique natural and cultural experiences.

The Tourist Board of the Municipality of Konavle organized a very successful and well-attended free workshop on foraging wild edible plants on Saturday, providing participants with the opportunity to discover the natural wealth that Konavle offers.

Under the expert guidance of Katija Živković and Jadranka Ničetić, attendees received advice on an ecological approach to foraging and nature preservation, learning how to properly gather edible plants and incorporate them into their daily diet.

After the fieldwork, participants tasted various dishes prepared with wild plants at the Čilipi Rural House.

Such events allow both local residents and visitors to acquire new skills, learn about the value of wild plants and the ecological aspects of foraging, and recognize the importance of traditional recipes and natural preparations.

The Konavle Tourist Board recognizes the significance of such events, which not only strengthen the connection to nature but also contribute to preserving valuable knowledge about plants and healthy living. Motivated by the growing interest in authentic, educational activities, the board plans to continue offering such programs in future seasons, thus contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage, promoting sustainable tourism, and raising awareness about healthy living and the natural wealth that Konavle has to offer.

Black Friday is the day of the year when product prices drop drastically, and discounts appear in every storefront. This day, which falls on the fourth Friday of November each year, is celebrated worldwide, and this year it falls on November 29. In Croatia, many stores will offer discounts on that Friday, though some have extended the "celebration" to the entire week, and some even to the entire month of November, reports Net.hr

What is Black Friday?

The concept of Black Friday began to take shape in the 1950s, originally used by the Philadelphia police. Since Black Friday falls on the day after the American Thanksgiving, the police used the term to describe the chaos that occurred in the city. For them, that day was anything but celebratory due to the influx of tourists and shoppers flooding the city.

However, during the 1980s, the meaning of "Black Friday" underwent a complete transformation from negative to positive. Retailers began to promote the idea that Black Friday was the day their businesses moved from “in the red,” indicating losses, to “in the black,” indicating profits. This marketing strategy helped turn Black Friday into what we know today—a day of huge discounts and the start of the holiday shopping season.

Black Friday in Croatia

Black Friday arrived in Europe in the 2010s, and today, many European countries, including Croatia, observe it. You may have noticed in recent years that ads increasingly mention Black Friday, or Crni Petak. Many retail chains have started holding Black Friday sales, attracting customers with big discounts on various products, from electronics to clothing and household appliances. Black Friday has even spread to small businesses, which also offer special Black Friday deals on their services.

Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday

Although the name implies a single Friday, Black Friday doesn’t last just one day. Some shopping centres start celebrating as early as the beginning of "Black Week." With advances in technology, Black Friday has also evolved from a solely physical event into an experience that combines online and offline shopping. Many retailers now offer discounts online, allowing shoppers to avoid crowds in stores. In response to the growing popularity of online shopping, Cyber Monday was created. This day, which falls on the first Monday after Thanksgiving, focuses exclusively on online discounts. Together with Black Friday, Cyber Monday forms "Cyber Weekend," a period of intense online shopping.